Mechanical apparatus for lifting



Nov. 19, 1957 T. L. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,813,746

MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIFTING Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THOMAS L. GOLDSMITH FRANK J. CLARKE ATTORNE Y8 Nov. 19, 1957 T. L. GOLDSMITH ET AL 2,813,746

MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIFT'ING Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS L-.- GOLDSMITH FRANK J. CLARKE ATTORNE Y Nov. 19, 1957 -'r. L. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,813,746

MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIFTING Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Shes; s

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Nov. 19, 1957 'r. L. GOLDSMITH ET AL ,8

MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIF'TING Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 llwslv'rog THOMAS L. GOLDSMITH FR ANK. J. CLARKE wypw ATTORNE Y5 Nov. 19, 1957 T. L. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,313,746

MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIFTING Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 THOMAS L. GOLDSMITH FRANK J. CLARKE BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR LIFTING Thomas Leslie Goldsmith, London, and Frank Joseph Clarke, East Horsley, Surrey, England, assignors to Clarke-Built Limited, London, England Application February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,242

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 26, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl. 29487.26)

This invention relates to mechanical apparatus for lifting bottles or any containers of the type having at the neck or equivalent lifting end an enlargement, protuberance or any projection on which the weight of the container can be supported.

The object is to provide lifting apparatus which is particularly adapted for use where containers have to be lifted from, or lowered into, packages or boxes of the type such that the containers are or require to be in a definite spaced relationship to one another.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises superimposed apertured plates mounted for relative displacement one across the other, the openings through the plates provided when the apertures in the respective plates are in register being large enough to admit therethrough the necks or equivalent parts of the containers, whereas when said relative displacement is imparted to said plates the effective size of said openings is reduced whereby to prevent withdrawal of the necks of the containers from said openings. Preferably projections are provided on the lowermost plate at the margins of its apertures to project into the apertures of the uppermost plate, to en.- able the containers to be suspended partly from the marginal portions adjoining the apertures in the uppermost plate and partly from the said projections.

The above-mentioned relative displacement between the superimposed plates may be effected by moving one or other plate or by moving both plates. A relative angular movement of the plates may be effected, or a relative rectilineal movement.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect it will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simple form of apparatus according to the invention, with a part broken away for clearness,

Figures 2 to are diagrammatic detail views illustrating the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a plan view of another form of apparatus according to the invention,

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line VIIVII of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Figure Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line -IXIX of Figure 7, and

Figure is a sectional view on the line X--X of Figure 9.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 comprises two superimposed rectangular plates 1 and 2, carried in a frame 3, which is conveniently of inverted tray form as shown, provided with spaced guides 4 between which the lateral edges of the plates 1 and 2 are guided. The uppermost plate 1 is formed with a number of circular apertures 5 of such a size as to admit the wide upper portion .of the neck of a container .6. The lower plate 2 2,813,746 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 is formed with circular apertures 7 capable of registering with the apertures 5. On each of the marginal portions adjoining the apertures 7, the plate 2 is formed with an upstanding projection 8 adapted to enter a corresponding recess 9 in the plate 1, the tops of said projections 8 being flush with the upper face of plate 1. In the normal positions of the plates the apertures 5 in the plate 1 are in register with the apertures 7 in the plate 2, (Figures 1, 2 and 3) thus giving the maximum openings through the plates for the free passage of the necks of the containers 6. A relative movement of the plates along the guides 4 causes the apertures 5 and 7 to overlap and produce substantially ellipsoidal openings (Figures 4 and 5'), the narrower dimension of which is smaller than the width of the wide part of the neck of each container 6, so that when the apparatus is lifted, the wide parts of the necks rest partly on plate 1 and partly on the projections 8 of plate 2, as shown in Figure 4. The containers 6 are thus suspended and can be transported in the required pattern to any desired point of release. This release is effected by a relative movement of the plates 1 and 2 which brings the apertures 5 and 7 back into register, thus enabling the apparatus to be lifted off the containers 6. The relative movement of the plates 1 and 2 may be effected for example by means of a lever 10 pivotally mounted on the frame 3 and coupled by any suitable mechanism to one or other or both of the plates. The frame 3 is provided with handles 11.

The apparatus shown in Figures 6 to 10 is suitable for mechanical operation and for attachment to a con veyor. The apparatus comprises a frame of inverted tray form having a base 12 and sides 13. To the inner surface of each of the sides 13 is secured a pair of spaced guides 14 which serve to guide the lateral edges of two plates 15 and 16, the upper plate 15 being formed with a plurality of circular apertures 17 (Figures 9 and 10) and the lower plate 16 being formed with a like plurality of circular apertures 18 (Figure 10) which with the parts in the positions shown are in register with the apertures 17. Adjacent the edge of each aperture 18 the lower plate 16 is formed with lugs 19 which project upwardly into corresponding recesses 20 adjacent the edges of the apertures 17.

The lower plate 16 is not formed with apertures in register with the rear rank of apertures 17 in the upper plate 15. Instead, the rear edge of the plate 16 is recessed at 21 to conform to the overlying part of each rear rank aperture 17, and adjacent each recess 21 a lug 19 projects upwardly into a recess 20 at the edge of the corresponding aperture 17.

The upper plate 15 is not provided with apertures in register with the front rank of apertures 18 in the lower plate. A metal strip 22 of angle section is secured to the front edge of the lower plate 16 and is recessed at 23 to conform to the underlying part of each front rank aperture 18.

Across the mouth of the tray-like frame 12, 13 is provided a guide 24, of substantial thickness, secured to the sides 13 of the frame. The guide 24 is formed with a plurality of apertures 25 (Figure 10) of frusto-conical form, the apertures 25 continuing into circular apertures 26 formed by annular projections 27 on the upper surface of the guide 24.

The mechanism for effecting relative movement of the plates 15 and 16 comprises two pairs of upper and lower cams 28, 29 keyed to cam spindles 30 and 31 which are respectively angularly movable in housings 32 and 33 secured to the base 12. A bushing 34 fixed to spindle 30 has secured to it alever 35 which is connected by links 36 to a lever 37 secured to a bushing 38 fixed on spindle 31, the spindles 30 and 31 thereby being coupled q for angular movement together. The spindle 31 .proje ct-s v I 3 upwardly through a bushing 39 fixed in a cover plate 40, and to the projecting upper end of the spindle 31 is fixed a bushing 41 which carries a lever 42 which is pivotallyco'nnected at 43 to the piston rod 44 of a doubleacting compressed air'engine the cylinder 45 of which is pivotally mounted at 46 on the cover plate 40, and is provided with compressed air supply pipes 47 and 48.

IA lever 49, mounted on a pivot pin 50 carried by a bracket 51 mounted on the cover plate 40, projects forwardly of the pivot pin 50 through a guide 52, also mounted on cover plate 40, and a tension spring 53 connects the lever 49 to the bracket 51 in such manner as to urge the lever 49 upwardly against the guide 52 as shown. The lever 49, which is capable of limited angular movement away from the guide 52, projects rearwardly beyond the cover plate 40 (see Figure 8), and its front end isformed with a detent 54 which at appropriate times as will be described cooperates with a projection 55 on lever 42.

On the upper plate 15 are fixed two pairs of upwardly projecting lugs 57, 57 (Figure 9) and to the lower plate 16 are fixed two pairs of downwardly projecting lugs 58, 58'.

The cover plate 40 is secured to vertical guides 56 of an overhead conveyor.

The operation is as follows: The superimposed plates 15 and 16 have a plurality of openings formed by the apertures 17 and 18, and when the parts are in their normal positions as shown, these openings are of maximum size. The openings are formed in an array which is suited to the mutual arrangement of a plurality of containers, such for example as those shown in Figure 1, disposed for example in crates or like containers each containing twenty bottles in the case illustrated.

In order to lift the bottles for the purpose of transporting them, the lifting device is lowered on the guides 56, until the said openings have passed over the Wide parts of the necks of the bottles. The conical openings in the guide 24 serve to guide the necks of the bottles in the event of the latter not being accurately disposed in the array corresponding to that of the openings. The engine 44, 45 is then operated to cause the piston rod 44 to move outwardly. This causes the lever 42 to move in anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, whereby the spindles 30 and 31 are also caused to turn in anticlockwise direction. The cams 28 thereupon cooperate with the lugs 57 so as to cause the upper plate 15 to slide forwards in the direction of arrow A (Figure 9), and the cams 28f cooperate with the lugs 58 to cause the lower plate 16 to slide rearwards in the direction of. arrow B. The width of the openings is thereby reduced so that as described with reference to Figures 1 to the necks of the bottles cannot be withdrawn. When the device is lifted by means of the guides 56, the bottles become suspended from the device.

In the case of all the openings except those in the front rank, each bottle is suspended partly from the edge of an aperture 17 in the upper plate 15 and partly from the upper surface of a lug 19. In the case of the openings in the front rank each bottle is suspended partly from a recessed part of the front edge of the plate 15 and partly from a recessed part of the edge of the strip 22.

Towards the end of the angular movement of the lever 42, the projection 55 thereon slides over the detent 54 and then snaps behind it, thus locking the plates 15, 16 against movement back to their normal positions.

'When the lifting device carrying the bottles has been conveyed to a delivery point by the above-mentioned conveyor to which the guides 56 are connected, the device is lowered until the bottles rest on or in a suitable support, for example a band conveyor or a crate, and the engine 44, 45 is then operated to retract the piston 44. Before the piston rod can move, however, the lever 42 requires to be released from the detent 54. This may be effected by an operator lifting the rearwardly projecting end of lever 49, or it may be effected automatically by the engagement of lever 49 with a suitable lug or other member upon arrival of the lifting device at the delivery point.

The inward movement of the piston rod 44 causes the spindles 30 and 31 to move angularly back to their normal positions, and during this movement of the spindles the cams 28 cooperate with the lugs 57 to move the plate back to its normal position, and the cams 28 cooperate with the lugs 58' to move the plate 16 back to its normal position. The openings through which the necks of the bottles project are then of maximum width, and the lifting device can then be raised clear of the bottles,

leaving the latter standing on the above-mentioned support. I

Obviously the apertures 5, 7 and 17, 18, 25, 26 may have shapes other than circular.

We claim:

.1. Apparatus for lifting containers having at one end means on which the weight of the container can be supported, comprising two superimposed plates having normally registering apertures therein providing an unobstructed opening through both plates for the insertion therein of said end of a container, means for effecting a relative displacement of said plates to offset said apertures in one of said plates with relation to the normally registering apertures in the other of said plates, a portion of the upper surface of the upper one of said plates adjacent the perimeter of the apertures therein forming a container support surface which is movable upon said relative displacement for supporting engagement with said means on a container for supporting the weight thereof, and an abutment provided on the lower one of'said" plates having a container support surface substantially coplanar with and substantially diametrically opposed to said container support surface upon said upper plate, said container support surface upon said abutment being movable upon said relative displacement for sup porting engagement with a container.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a supporting framework is provided and wherein both of said plates are mounted for movement relative to said framework.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a supporting framework in which the said plates are mounted for relative movement, and an apertured guide structure secured to the supporting framework to underlie the lower plate and providing for each opening through both plates a guide aperture for frusto-conical form with the smallest diameter nearest to said lower plate.

4. Apparatus for lifting containers having at one end a projection on which the weight of the container can be supported, comprising two superimposed apertured plates having a normal relative position in which a marginally-recessed aperture in the upper one of the two plates is in register with an associated aperture in the lower plate to provide an unobstructed opening through both plates for the insertion therein of said one end of a container to be supported, and having an overlapping position in which each pair of associated apertures overlap one another, means for effecting a relative displacement of said plates between the normal and overlapping positions, a first projection for each associated pair of apertures constituted by a marginal portion of the upper plate around the aperture therein and generally diametrically opposed to the said marginal recess of the same aperture, the upper surface of the said marginal portion providing a container support surface movable upon said relative displacement between the normal position in which the corresponding opening is unobstructed and the overlapping position in which the container support surface is in position for supporting engagement with a container inserted in the respective opening, and a second projection for each associated pair of apertures provided on the lower one of the said plates and having a container support surface substantially coplanar with and generally diametrically opposed to the container support surface of said first projection, the container support surface of the second projection being movable upon the said relative displacement between the normal position in which the second projection is accommodated in said marginal recess in the aperture in the upper plate, and the corresponding opening is unobstructed, and the overlapping position in which the surface is in position for supporting engagement with a container inserted in the respective opening.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a supporting framework and wherein both of said plates are mounted for movement relative to said framework.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including a supporting framework in which the said plates are mounted for relative movement and an apertured guide structure secured to the supporting framework to underlie the lower plate and providing for each opening through both plates a guide aperture of frusto-conical form with the smallest diameter nearest to said lower plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,407,529 Bertram Sept. 10, 1946 2,417,774 Mullen Mar. 18, 1947 2,443,886 Bierwirth June 22, 1948 2,448,204 Anderson Aug. 31, 1948 2,454,178 Howell Nov. 16, 1948" 2,457,027 Bertram Dec. 21, 1948 2,592,017 Engstrom Apr. 8, 1952 

